Some Pre-Holiday Fun: The All White Affair

Ladies, I know you are excited to don that pristine white in your wardrobe!  I AM!

I simply LOVE LOVE LOVE Memorial Day... it's the official day to kick off the summer, and the pass for all to wear ALL WHITE rolled into one!

Since most of us do get to enjoy a day off on Memorial Day,  the ladies of Sigma Gamma Rho - Iota Psi Sigma Alumnae Chapter are hosting the All White Affair on Sunday, May 27, 2012 to give us Milwaukeeans a pre-holiday party!

Fellas, dust off that white linen, ladies find that white dress you've been wanting to rock and join them at Blackthorn Pub &Grill at 750 N. Jefferson! Tickets are $10 in advance!

-Nadi G

A Nite of Flava II @ Ivy Lounge

Looking for a guaranteed party on a Saturday?  Join the men of Global Legends as they present A Nite of Flava II at Ivy Lounge located across the street from the newly renamed BMO Harris BRADLEY CENTER (I will still say Bradley Center though :) ) at 1118 N. 4th Street.

Featuring the musical talents of DJ KAOS -the one & only - and the emceeing mastery of Mike Love of V100, this is sure to be a formula for a hot night!!

-Nadi G

Karaoke with the Candidate

For those of you that want that mid-week release AND crave some political awareness, Karaoke with the Candidate tonight at Chic Lounge will satisfy both your needs!

Mandela Barnes for State Assembly and supporter, Ossie Kendrix are hosting an evening that will give constituents a chance to meet the candidate for state representative of the 11th District.

Now, I've heard Mandela sing and he's got a little soul. We will see if that's the case tonight!

Supporters can choose to contribute as well by the following levels:

$25 <suggested contribution>
$50 Friend
$125 Host
$250 Sponsor

Event starts at 7pm
Chic Lounge
131 N. Jackson

Brunch, anyone?

Recently, a friend asked me about the nicest spots to have brunch.  Since I shared a few places with her, I wanted to go the extra mile and reveal some more to my friends and my beloved Foursquare followers.

The Nadi G Brunch Guide:

Cafe Calatrava (a personal fave)
Located in the Milwaukee Art Museum, offers Sunday brunch 11am-4pm

Cafe Benelux
Rooftop in the spring & summer months is the bomb.com
346 N. Broadway http://www.cafebenelux.com/

The Wicked Hop
345 N. Broadway http://www.thewickedhop.com/ Sunday 10am-2pm

Coquette Cafe
316 N. Milwaukee http://www.coquettecafe.com/ Sun 11-5pm

BONUS!

Swig
217 N. Broadway http://www.swigmilwaukee.com/
They do NOT, have a brunch menu but they make a killer mimosa & their food is still pretty delicious!

Happy brunching!!!! :)

-Nadi G

Dwele is coming, yall!

Okay, this is MAJOR! I can no longer contain my excitement.  It has been FOUR LONG YEARS since Andwele Gardner better known as the stage name DWELE has visited our beloved city and I am uber excited. 

He came to Milwaukee for African World Festival in '07 and I was front and center.  He will be at Gene's Lanes and Lounge on 6315 W Fond Du Lac Avenue.  I was sort of confused at it being at Gene's too... Why Gene's Lanes, you ask?  It's probably because Jammin 98.3 has something to do with it and that's a preferred venue of theirs.  Thursday, December 8th is the date and your girl will try her damnednest to get an autograph, picture, lock of hair.. something! 

I will keep all my fellow adoring Dwele fans updated about ticket sales and the time of his appearance and what type of show this will be.

Stay tuned!!!

3's UP!

The NETWORKING side of a Socialite

As a socialite, I absolutely need to stay abreast of community happenings and NETWORK.  It is vital.

I was invited by the wonderful Jasmine Johnson and attended with much eagerness the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Milwaukee Chapter’s (NCBW) first part of its three part panel series, “The Un’Corked Truth.”  This event took place at Vino 100 (a quaint wine lounge which you should definitely check out in Wauwatosa). http://www.vino100tosa.com/

NCBW kicked off the series with “The Cost of Doing Business as an African-American Woman, “THE PERCEPTION EDITION.”  Black women panelists offered frank discussion not only about the challenges our gender encounters regularly in the workplace but shared personal testimonies of triumph resulting from hard work and acceptance and assertion of your strengths and character.  The awesome Genyne Edwards notably of MOSAIC and Cardinal Stritch’s African American Leadership Program; Gwen Johnson, Vice President of Human Resources at Assurant Health and Dr. Debi Miller, President and CEO of Global Communications Strategists presented engaging insight as panelists that definitely has me excited for the next edition.  “Get there early to relax… There is great comfort in just being in the moment … then you are clear and crisp,” Edwards shared with us regarding important meetings.  Dr. Miller pointed out, “Sometimes we’re our own baggage… we undervalue OURSELVES.” She encouraged that allies and lobbying encourages people to have a conversation about your skills OUTSIDE of meetings.

Afterward, I was able to network with some of Milwaukee’s most talented, career-established women that belong to the NCBW chapter.  I met Faithe Colas of  Black Nouveau and the Salvation Army and told her of my aspirations to become a successful event planner.  I was in awe because I check her out on public television all the time and I could not believe she and I were just having this candid conversation.  Before I knew it, she was introducing me to her friend, who then introduced me to the next person.  It was great, I was being handed business cards left and right and sadly had none of my own to return to my new acquantances. L 

Again, these women were so open and honest with their feedback regarding my aspirations, it was refreshing and I felt incredibly blessed to be a part of this network.  Fortunately, I was representing with my Zeta pin on my blouse and while we all were setting up to take pictures, the moderator Denise Calloway noticed it and exclaimed, “Are you my Sister of the Dove?” That and the humbling connections that came about made my night!  I did walk away with two lasting lessons:

ONE: NETWORKING is the lifeblood of an entrepreneur. You also have to follow up with new connections.

TWO: GET BUSINESS CARDS! LOL The ol’ *let me get your number and pull out my cellphone* routine is dead.

Peep the pic... I'm the one with the copper 'fro in the back! :)

3's UP!

UNITYYYYYYYYYY! *Rick James voice*

So I co-chaired NPHC’s Unity Weekend 2011, which is the culmination of year-long planning and a celebration of you guessed it: UNITY amongst all 9 of the Black Greek lettered organizations of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, that also operate under the moniker, the DIVINE 9.

We kicked off the weekend Friday night with Divine Skate 3, the third crack at a skate night at Waukesha Skateland.  Folks came out but not as many as I thought.   It's probably time to retire that event, I suppose.  I don’t skate (stopped after age 9 when I nearly cracked my head in on a field trip) so I was not that excited about that aspect, but I definitely wanted to see my fellow Greeks. The theme was to wear attire that represented what number you represent in your organization and since I’m part of the illustrious force that are the QUADs (#4s) I had to rock yellow.  It was cool to step out of my color box for a couple hours but I took that shirt off with the quickness when I got home. LOL

The Unity Cookout at Lake Park was Saturday and aside from the rain that drowned us out from the beginning hours until about 1:45, it was a nice turnout!  All 9 Greek orgs were represented at the park! I am too proud of us!  We had the Iotas grilling, the infamous moving van called the Q-Haul, a bright gold moving truck, and some so sweet desserts from the Zetas! The highlights in my opinion were the Greek Roll Call and everybody getting on the makeshift stage to do the Wobble! The Ques were deep and ready to hop, too... I'm sad we didn't have a stroll competition.

Now the after party this year to raise scholarship funds was appropriately called THE AFTERPARTY and it took place at the Aloft Hotel in downtown Milwaukee.  The space was eh… modest, but we had it until midnight and access to all the hot spots in the hotel like the patio, the WXYZ Lounge.  It was looking sad til about 10:30 then people were coming from everywhere nonstop, even after11:30 guests were still arriving AND paying knowing we stopped at midnight.  That room got packed and DJ Mike Love rocked it as usual.  Shoutout to the Alphas and SGRho's coming out deep.  All the young Greeks strolling had me reminiscing… I did get out there myself a couple of times. ;)  I deem it a very solid night for NPHC because once again EVERY org was represented!! I love it and it's definitely a mark of what’s to come for the year!

SERVE60’s 2^nd Sundays at the Lake occurred the next day and NPHC agreed to attend and volunteer to wrap up the weekend! The goal was to try something different than us barely making it to someone’s church after partying the night before and it certainly was a nice change. Sunday’s beautiful weather coupled with local gospel talent made it a good time!

NPHC- all I have to say is, in words of the Five Heartbeats,

“I’ve got nothing but love for you baby!”

3’s UP!